Agile Development

Forums › IT Pro and developers › Agile Development

SouthernJ

36 posts

Geek

#133692 30-Oct-2013 19:34

Hi - I'm writing a report on "Agile Software Development" and would like to be able to quote some household names that have developed using this methodology.

Does anyone here know of any (obviously, without compromising client confidentiality) that I can include...?

So far I've managed to uncover British Airways, GE and the NYSE have successfully built this way...

Any others...?

TIA!

jahc

92 posts

Master Geek

#924416 30-Oct-2013 20:59

It seems just about every software company in New Zealand is doing "agile". Note the quotes... everyone thinks they're doing agile, but they're all doing it slightly differently. Whether they're doing Agile or a variant they tend to just pick the bits of Agile that they like or know about or can justify the cost for.

I find it curious that there are big heavy books written on Agile development, yet most people who both believe in it are able to describe it in a few short snappy sentences and think that's all there is to it.

Google for "agile sucks" .. that pretty much sums it up.

I think what we need to strive for is a methodology that allows developers to work without interruption. On that note.. google for "interrupting developer" as well. This is a random search I've just thought of, and look at all that reading material.. required reading for the types of managers who think 2 hour meetings will get it done faster.

kendog

325 posts

Ultimate Geek

#924439 30-Oct-2013 21:48

Agile dev is great.
An agile dev team in an organisation that is not agile, is a challenge that should not be underestimated.

TinyTim

1042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#924445 30-Oct-2013 22:14

jahc: It seems just about every software company in New Zealand is doing "agile". Note the quotes... everyone thinks they're doing agile, but they're all doing it slightly differently. Whether they're doing Agile or a variant they tend to just pick the bits of Agile that they like or know about or can justify the cost for.

Of course everyone is doing it slightly differently. The whole point of agile is that it's adapted to suit the context. (Of course have they have adapted it so they are as effective as they can be? Well, that's another issue entirely.)

As for the OP's question, some household names using agile (in NZ): Snapper, Statistics NZ, BNZ, Orion Health (well, perhaps not much of a household name!), Powershop, National Library, Trade Me, ACC.

SouthernJ

36 posts

Geek

#924533 31-Oct-2013 08:05

@TinyTim = thanks heaps for the names of companies that have used agile as a methodology (and I realise that's a bit of oxymoron as agile more about progress than methods).

I especially appreciate the kiwi references: {{ thanks }}

@KenDog = yup - I can imagine that could create some interesting dynamics. {{ thank you for going out of your way to comment }}

@jahc = lovely to see your passion when it comes to #agile.

As an aside, and for what it's worth, I think more companies could benefit from adopting "agile thinking" for more than just software development.

The four tenets of agile software development:

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools;
Working software over comprehensive documentation;
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation;
Responding to change over following a plan

#LoveIt!

TwoSeven

1626 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#924536 31-Oct-2013 08:10

I believe Microsoft may have a few teams working on Agile.

It would be useful if educational institutes could teach developers things like the CMMI-SW and the PSP and perhaps a little of ITIL, PMI and Prince2 - then I think they would have a good framework for using those Agile techniques. There are even useful guides such as the SWEBOK, BABOK and PMBOK that can be used to provide some additional knowledge.

Software Engineer
(the practice of real science, engineering and management)
A.I. (Automation rebranded)
Gender Neutral
(a person who believes in equality and who does not believe in/use stereotypes. Examples such as gender, binary, nonbinary, male/female etc.)

...they/their/them...

SouthernJ

36 posts

Geek

#924537 31-Oct-2013 08:13

@TwoSeven: thanks for your contribution - I'll be sure to look up your suggestions. {{ appreciated }}

scottr

262 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#927272 4-Nov-2013 21:22

Hi, if you're after a homegrown household name Slingshot (well the parent company CallPlus, where I work) have been doing agile for 2-3 years., It's been an interesting ride with some amazing wins and gnarly battle-scars, but overall we're in a much better place. Still more to achieve though... If you're interested in knowing more feel free to flick me a pm.

Agile is also in use in many places government departments (NZ and others), even the FBI have adopted it with great success.

http://www.cio.com/article/714333/How_the_FBI_Proves_Agile_Works_for_Government_Agencies

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

ubergeeknz

3344 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Vocus

#927277 4-Nov-2013 21:34

Orcon is an agile shop, it works well and makes for a relatively low-stress environment c/w places using waterfall methodologies I've worked at in the past.

We use it for all projects, not just development oriented ones.

SouthernJ

36 posts

Geek

#927353 5-Nov-2013 07:12

@ScottR - thanks "you have new mail" :-)

@UberGeekNZ - many thanks to you too. Good to know it's a-happening thing and not solely the topic of discussions. #ActionsSpeakLouderThanWords.

TwoSeven

1626 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#927417 5-Nov-2013 09:04

SouthernJ: @TwoSeven: thanks for your contribution - I'll be sure to look up your suggestions. {{ appreciated }}

If you have any further questions about agile or more generally 'software process engineering' (the field of defining and implementing software methodologies to put it another way), don't hesitate to ask. Its a field I have worked in a bit over the decades and am happy to offer an opinion.

...they/their/them...